1.
[syn: polymorphism, pleomorphism]
2. (biology) the appearance of two or more distinctly different forms in the life cycle of some organisms;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pleomorphism \Ple`o*mor"phism\, n. [Gr. ? more + morfh` form.]
1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or
more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and
trimorphism.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are
phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean
species, each of which may exhibit, according to
undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms
characteristic of the different genera and species.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
pleomorphism
n 1: (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of
the same chemical compound [syn: polymorphism,
pleomorphism]
2: (biology) the appearance of two or more distinctly different
forms in the life cycle of some organisms